Click & Grow Reviews: The Short Answer
Click & Grow makes self-watering indoor smart gardens that grow herbs and greens from pre-seeded soil pods under automated LED lights.
The gardens really are close to hands-off. The catch is cost. The hardware isn’t cheap for what it is, and you keep buying pods after the box is empty.
We ran the Smart Garden 3 and Smart Garden 9 side by side for [X] weeks in a [kitchen / apartment corner with little natural light]. Here’s what grew, what didn’t, and what it actually costs to keep one running for a year.
Disclosure: Qwik Reviews may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It doesn’t change our verdict, and Click & Grow had no say in this review.
Quick verdict
Rating: 4.5/5
Best for: people who cook with fresh herbs weekly, small apartments, and beginners who have killed a windowsill basil or two.
Skip it if: you want to grow food in real quantity, or you hate paying for refills.
Price: Smart Garden 3 from $124.95, Smart Garden 9 from $249.95, plus about $3–$5 per plant pod (clickandgrow.com, September 2026).
What Is Click & Grow and How Does It Work?
A Click & Grow garden is a water tank with a lamp arm above it and slots for plant pods. You drop in the pods, fill the tank, and plug it in. The light runs on a fixed timer, and the pods pull water up from the tank on their own.
Each pod is a biodegradable cup of growing medium with the seeds and nutrients already inside. Click & Grow calls this Smart Soil. There’s no fertilizer to measure, no pH to test, and no pump. Every garden in the range works this way. The models differ only in size and shape, and all 60+ pod varieties fit any of them (Click & Grow).
Is Click & Grow soil-based or hydroponic?
It’s soil-based, not hydroponic. The roots grow into the pod’s medium, which wicks water from the tank. They don’t sit in a nutrient bath.
In day-to-day use, that means three things. It runs silently, because there’s no pump. There’s no nutrient dosing. The tank also stays cleaner than in a hydroponic unit, where roots hang in the solution and leave residue. The trade-off is that growth runs a little slower than a well-tuned hydroponic setup. [Your note: did you notice this in testing?]
Click & Grow Smart Garden 3 Review
The Smart Garden 3 is the one to buy if you want fresh basil within reach of the stove and nothing more. It holds three pods, sits on a counter about one foot wide, and draws 8 W.
Setup. It took us 10 minutes from unboxing to the light switching on. The box includes a Basil 3-pack, three germination domes and two lamp extension arms. You add the arms later as the plants get taller.
Design. It’s matte plastic in white, sage or grey, and quiet enough for a studio apartment, since there’s nothing in it that moves. The lamp arm rises from about 21 cm to 47 cm. [Your note: how bright is the light at night in an open-plan room?]
Water. Click & Grow says a full tank lasts up to three weeks. In our test, we refilled it every 7 days once the basil filled out. There’s a float indicator, so you don’t have to guess.
Power. It’s rated at 3.8 kWh a month. At a US average of roughly $0.17 per kWh, that comes to about $8 a year.
Yield. Three pods is the honest limit. From our basil, we cut 100 grams per week at peak, which is enough for [pesto once a week / garnish most nights].
Our take: it’s a well-made starter garden. For anyone who cooks with herbs daily, it will feel small within a month.
Click & Grow Smart Garden 9 Review
The Smart Garden 9 is the model most people should buy. It triples the pod count of the Smart Garden 3 for about twice the price, and nine pods is where a herb garden starts to feed a household.
Setup. The box includes Basil, Green Lettuce and Mini Tomato 3-packs, nine domes and two extension arms. Our setup took 15 minutes.
Size. It measures about 60 cm wide, 18 cm deep and 40 cm tall with one extension. That’s roughly the footprint of a bread box laid on its side. Measure your counter, and note that the lamp needs clearance as the arms go up.
Water. The 4-litre tank lasts 1–3 weeks, depending on how far along the plants are. Ours went [X] days between refills at peak growth. Lettuce and tomato drink far more than young herbs.
Light. The LEDs run 16 hours on and 8 off. It’s bright. If the garden sits in a living room, plan where it faces. [Your note: was it distracting in the evening?]
Power. It’s rated at 6.2 kWh a month, or about $13 a year at $0.17 per kWh.
Yield. Across nine pods we harvested 10. The basil and lettuce paid off fastest; the tomatoes took 1 weeks to fruit.
Who should choose the Smart Garden 9 over the 3?
Pick the 9 if you cook most nights, want more than one kind of herb at once, or want to try lettuce or tomatoes. Pick the 3 if counter space is tight or you’re buying a first garden as a gift.
There’s also a Smart Garden 9 PRO at 59.95, with app and touch control of the lights. It grows exactly the same plants. The PRO is only worth it if you want to snooze the lamp during a movie or set custom light schedules.
Smart Garden 3 vs Smart Garden 9: Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Smart Garden 9 if you cook often. Buy the Smart Garden 3 if you have one small spot and only want basil. Both use the same pods and the same watering system.
| Smart Garden 3 | Smart Garden 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US, Sept 2026) | $124.95 | $249.95 |
| Pod slots | 3 | 9 |
| Size, W × D × H | 30 × 12 × 21–47 cm | 60 × 18 × 40 cm |
| Water tank | 1.2–1.5 L, up to 3 weeks | 4 L, 1–3 weeks |
| Power draw | 8 W | 13 W |
| Energy per month | 3.8 kWh | 6.2 kWh |
| Starter pods | Basil ×3 | Basil, Lettuce, Mini Tomato ×3 each |
| Best for | One herb, small counters, gifts | Daily cooking, mixed herbs and greens |
Specs from Click & Grow’s product pages for the Smart Garden 3 and Smart Garden 9. The Smart Garden 3 page lists both 1.2 L and 1.5 L for the tank.
Per pod slot, the Smart Garden 9 is cheaper: about $28 per slot against $42 for the 3.
Click & Grow Plant Pods Review: What Do They Cost Per Year?
Pods cost $2 to $5 each, depending on how you buy them. For a Smart Garden 9 replanted every three months, that works out to roughly $120–$180 a year. This is the number to weigh before you buy the garden.
| Pack | Price | Per pod |
|---|---|---|
| Single variety, 3-pack | $14.95 | about $4.98 |
| Mix, 9-pack (e.g. Italian Herb) | $29.95 | about $3.33 |
| Grow Anything (seedless), 30-pack | $59.95 | about $2.00 |
Prices from clickandgrow.com, September 2026. Click & Grow also runs a plant pod subscription [add current discount after checking].
How long pods last. Lettuce runs its course in weeks. Basil and mint kept producing for [X] months in our garden before turning woody. Most households end up replacing a few pods at a time, not all nine at once.
Sample yearly cost, replanting every 3 months:
- Smart Garden 3 with single-variety packs: 12 pods × $4.98 ≈ $60
- Smart Garden 9 with 9-pack mixes: 36 pods × $3.33 ≈ $120
- Smart Garden 9 with single-variety packs: 36 pods × $4.98 ≈ $180
If a pod doesn’t sprout, Click & Grow replaces it free. We [did / didn’t] need to use this. [Your note: how many of your pods failed?]
Can you use your own seeds in Click & Grow?
Yes, but use the seedless Grow Anything pods rather than your own soil. Click & Grow itself says success rates drop a lot with outside soil, because the wicks don’t draw water well through every mix (Click & Grow FAQ).
Grow Anything pods also cut your cost to about $2 a pod plus seeds. We grew [variety] from our own seed packet and got [result].
What Grows Best in Click & Grow?
Leafy greens and soft herbs grow best. Lettuce is the fastest, basil and mint are the most rewarding, and tomatoes and peppers are slow but fun. Click & Grow’s own guidance matches this: greens first, fruiting plants last, herbs and flowers in between.
Easiest in our test: [e.g. basil, green lettuce, mint, chives]
Slowest or trickiest: [e.g. mini tomato, chili pepper, rosemary]
Three things we learned:
- Pinch basil early. Cut the top set of leaves once the plant has three or four pairs. It branches out instead of racing up into the lamp.
- Give fruiting plants their own garden if you can. Tomatoes shade their neighbours and need the lamp at full height, which leaves low herbs stretching for light.
- Stagger your planting. Replace one or two pods at a time, so something is always ready to cut.
How long does basil take to grow in Click & Grow?
Basil sprouts in about a week and is usually ready for a first light harvest in four to five weeks. In our garden, the first seedlings showed on day [X], and we made our first cut on day [X].
[Add photo series: basil at day 7, day 14, day 25 and first harvest, with captions.]
Click & Grow Pros and Cons
Pros
- Almost no effort. You fill the tank every week or three and trim now and then. There’s nothing to measure or dose.
- Silent. There’s no pump, so it works in a bedroom or studio.
- Clean. There’s no loose soil, and the parts are dishwasher-safe.
- Cheap to run. Power costs roughly $8–$13 a year at typical US rates.
- Sprouting guarantee. Failed pods are replaced free.
Cons
- Pod costs never stop. Budget $60–$180 a year on top of the garden.
- Small harvests. It’s a herb supply, not a vegetable patch.
- Fixed light cycle on standard models. Only the PRO lets you change the schedule.
- Bright lamp. It can be a lot in an open-plan room at night.
- Pricey hardware. You’re paying for design and convenience, not for size.
Click & Grow vs AeroGarden: Which Is Better for Herbs?
Click & Grow is better if you want zero upkeep and silence. AeroGarden is better if you want faster growth and don’t mind adding nutrients and cleaning the bowl. The real split is soil pods versus hydroponics.
| Click & Grow | AeroGarden | |
|---|---|---|
| Growing method | Soil pods, passive wicking | Hydroponic, water pump |
| Nutrients | Built into the pod | Added to the water by you |
| Noise | Silent | Low pump hum |
| Cleaning | Occasional | More often; roots sit in the solution |
| Growth speed | Steady | Usually faster |
| Entry price | $124.95 (Smart Garden 3) |
One more thing to know: AeroGarden announced a shutdown in late 2024. It is now selling again under Scotts Miracle-Gro (Scotts). If long-term pod and parts supply matters to you, factor that history in.
Choose Click & Grow if you travel, forget to check on plants, or want the garden in a bedroom or living area.
Choose AeroGarden if you like to tinker, want bigger harvests from the same footprint, and are fine with a weekly check.
Is Click & Grow Worth It in 2026?
Yes, if you cook with fresh herbs every week and value low effort over low cost. No, if you want to cut your grocery bill. The pods alone cost more than supermarket basil for most households.
- Beginners: worth it. It’s the hardest indoor garden to get wrong.
- Small apartments: worth it, especially the Smart Garden 3 on a shelf with no window.
- Keen home cooks: get the Smart Garden 9, and buy pods in mixes or through Grow Anything.
- Budget-first buyers: skip it. A windowsill pot and seeds cost a fraction, if you’ll remember to water.
Our pick is the Smart Garden 9 for most homes. [Check the current price on clickandgrow.com →]
Does Click & Grow Offer Discounts or Deals?
Yes. Sales usually land around Black Friday, the holidays and spring gardening season. The brand also sells themed kits that bundle a garden with extra pods.
- Free US shipping on orders over $150, so a Smart Garden 9 ships free.
- Kits: themed Smart Garden 3 kits run $139.95 and Smart Garden 9 kits $299.95, each with extra pods.
- Pod subscription: [add current terms after checking].
- Promo codes: [list only codes you’ve tested at checkout, with the date tested].
Prices checked on clickandgrow.com, September 2026.
Click & Grow Reviews: FAQs
Is Click & Grow worth the money?
It’s worth it for people who use fresh herbs weekly and want them without effort. The garden costs $124.95–$249.95, and pods add roughly $60–$180 a year. You’re paying for convenience and reliability, not for cheaper food.
How long do Click & Grow pods last?
It depends on the plant. Lettuce is done in a few weeks. Herbs like basil and mint keep producing for several months with regular trimming. Most owners replace pods a few at a time as each plant slows down.
Can I use my own seeds in Click & Grow?
Yes. Use the seedless Grow Anything pods, which cost about $2 each in a 30-pack. Click & Grow advises against using your own soil, because its wicks don’t draw water well through other mixes.
Is Click & Grow good for a small apartment?
Yes. The Smart Garden 3 is about 30 cm wide and needs no window, since it brings its own light. It’s also silent, with no pump, so it works in a studio or bedroom.
How much electricity does Click & Grow use?
Very little. The Smart Garden 3 uses 3.8 kWh a month and the Smart Garden 9 uses 6.2 kWh. At about $0.17 per kWh, that’s roughly $8 and $13 a year.
